Bouvier Law Attorney, Vanessa Gabriele, Featured as “Emerging Attorney” in Buffalo Business First

Emerging Attorney: Vanessa Gabriele

Mar 12, 2019, 6:00am EDT

Photography by JOED VIERA

“As a family law attorney, you have the opportunity to help people as they are going through what is probably the most challenging situation of their life. This creates the opportunity to do a tremendous amount of good.” — Vanessa Gabriele

Vanessa Gabriele grew up in Rochester but is making her mark here in Buffalo as an associate at Bouvier Law LLP and a frequent speaker on matrimonial and family law.

The traits that made her once consider a teaching career have served her well.

Said Gabriele: “Family law clients are the most emotional and difficult clients to represent. To be an effective advocate in this area of law, you have to have patience and empathy.”

Just five years out of law school, she is recognized for her knowledge in matters of divorce, child custody and family court proceedings.

“I like spending a lot of time in the courtroom and family law provides me that opportunity,” she said. “The only lawyers I know who spend more time in court than divorce/family law attorneys are criminal lawyers. For example, a typical day for me is that in the morning I might have a report-back settlement conference in the expedited matrimonial part of Supreme Court, working with opposing counsel for a divorce on a complicated property division involving the valuation and division of a small business, and then be at Erie County Family Court for a temporary custody hearing in the afternoon.”

She runs a busy schedule, providing monthly case law updates to the Matrimonial and Family Law Committee of the Erie County Bar Association, lecturing at the law school and chairing various programs at local and state levels.

“I am motivated by resolving a complex divorce or custody case with a satisfied client, as it gives me a sense of accomplishment and it’s something that I can look back on and say, ‘I achieved the best result for that client.’ I’m also motivated by visible results,” she said. “For example, when I finish a case and I see the person who came to me weak, upset, angry and defeated finally rediscovered his or her strength, I get a sense of accomplishment from knowing that I helped them find their strength through one of the most difficult times in their life.”

ABOUT VANESSA

College: University at Buffalo, 2011

Law school: University at Buffalo School of Law, 2014

First job: Sales rep at her family’s car dealership in Rochester

First job in the legal industry: Attorney for a small civil and criminal litigation firm; later joined J. Adams & Associates PLLC.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Teacher

Favorite restaurant in Western New York: Tempo

Favorite current TV show: Whatever is trending on Netflix

Mac or PC: PC

What app could you not live without: The Weather Channel and Instagram

Favorite streaming service for TV/movies: Netflix

What’s the first thing you do in the morning: Go spinning or make myself breakfast. I have to eat breakfast.

How do you relax after a long day in the office: Cook

What do you like to do for fun: Skiing, cooking, traveling and hanging out with friends and family

Professional associations: BAEC Young Lawyers Committee, NYSBA, Women Lawyers of Western New York